NVJ: Dutch dip in press freedom ranking is worrying

The Dutch Association of Journalists (NVJ) finds it worrying that the Netherlands has dropped more than twenty places in the ranking of press freedom this year. “This is a huge plunge. It is worrying that we have fallen so much,” said Paul Teixeira of the NVJ.

The Netherlands falls from 6th to 28th place on the annual index, compiled by Reporters Sans Frontières (RSF). Since 2002, the Netherlands has always been in the top 10. According to RSF, aggression against journalists is increasing in our country, despite the relatively favorable conditions for press freedom.

The organization uses a number of indicators to compile the ranking. For example, the degree of press freedom in the 180 countries surveyed is not only determined by how politically, economically and legally independent journalists are, but security also plays a major role. This year, RSF used a slightly different method to better take into account new challenges, such as digitization, the report says. For example, the questionnaire that was distributed to hundreds of journalists, academics and human rights defenders has been updated and the aforementioned indicators for press freedom have been reconstituted, giving the security category more weight.

Decline

However, the drop of 22 places is not entirely due to this modified method, because the safety of journalists is deteriorating in the Netherlands, Teixeira sees. For example, PersVeilig received 272 reports last year from journalists who had been harassed, intimidated or had to deal with violence. In 2020, the counter was still at 121 reports.

In addition, it should not be underestimated that politics in the Netherlands can also contribute to a certain image of journalists, according to the NVJ spokesperson. “In the Netherlands, the government’s interference in journalism, thank God, is not comparable to that in North Korea or Russia, but there are certainly incidents.” For example, a government agency criticizing the work of investigative journalists, or calling journalists “scum off the ledge”. “It may be a badge of honor, but it has no positive influence.”

In order to improve the situation in the Netherlands, politicians should stop criticizing journalism, says the spokesperson. “But journalism can also take matters into its own hands and show the public more how the news is made and what choices are made. It will not immediately change everyone’s world view, but hopefully it will contribute.”